Keep a gratitude list. My
list always begins with a roof over my head, my good health, my children,
their good health, work colleagues I enjoy, my parents, siblings and
friends. And that is just the beginning. See? It’s working already. My
sister always includes coffee on her list. Anything is open for
consideration. And I find that once I start, I begin to look at things in
new ways. “A washer and dryer! I have a washer and dryer! In my house. Isn’t that amazing?”
You get the idea, and this really works. Who has time to whine when one
has a machine to do the dishes?

Breathe deeply in this
moment. Really. Take that deep breath and look around. Notice your
surroundings. When I take a moment to do this I am struck by where I am.
It goes like this: breathe in, notice patio. Realize I have a patio to
enjoy. Enjoy it.

Eat mindfully. How often do
we race through our meals, another task to be accomplished in our busy
life? I am so guilty of this one, often eating in front of the computer
while I work or in front of the television to catch a little news. How
very different my meals are when I sit down at the table and notice the
smells and colors on the plate. When I take the time to savor each bite, I
notice the taste and textures of what I am eating. Then I am grateful, not
only for the nourishment, but also for the beauty of the arugula leaf or
the vibrancy of the blueberry.

Take a walk outside. This is
a fast way to shed anxiety and worry. Look around and mindfully notice
what is around you. See the plants, trees, and flowers. I so enjoy a
stroll through my neighborhood, in part because of the self-expression
found in other’s yards. People take such pride in their homes. I also find
that the simple act of moving brings gratitude for this body and the
ability to walk around on this earth.

Make a list of all the people
who have helped you. My list begins with my parents and goes on from
there. The thing about this list is that I never get to the end. There is
always someone else to include. I can add several people just from the day
I had yesterday. And some people deserve to be listed repeatedly. Like my
parents. And there you go: the endless list of people who care enough to
help. If that isn’t love in this world, I don’t know what is. And for
that, I am grateful.